Chain tool



Jul 17, 1928.

J. W. SAFFOLD CHAIN TOOL Filed Sept. '7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR.

Patented duty 17, 19.258.

' stair g EL.4.L

y tamer James WEBB sAnFoL'n, o1" CLEVELAND, OI-I10.

CHAIN moon.

2 Application filed September 7 1926. Seria1 No.'133,758.

the links of the cnain being operated upon I are retained in. pro-per position in the tool during the eye opening or .elosing .process without the aid ofthe operators hands during the operation ofthe same. I

Another object of my invention resides-in a tool of the classdescribed-which maybe capable of opening and closing the links of wire, chains of varying sizes.

Another object of my invention isto provide an improvedtool of-the type referred to which. may be operated by hand with a minimum effort, efficiently, economically and positively.

Another objectof my invention TGSlClQS'lH the provision of a tool of the type described, which is durable inconstruction and lending itself to readyreplacement of wearing parts.

Other objects of;my invention and theinvention itself will become apparent-from reference to the following specification wherein I have described certain embodiments of my invention and which embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings form ing a part ofthis specification.

' Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows: a side elevational view of an embodiment of my invention, illustratii'ig'the position of the same for operating on a chain link;

Fig. 2 shows a like view of-the same in another operating position; r

Fig. '3 shows a front elevational' view of the embodiment of the foregoin Fig. 4c shows a top plan view of-one of the tool jaws;

Fig. 5 shows a side elevati-onalview of the same, a portion of which is shown in sec tion;

Fig. 6 shows a the same;

front elevational view of Fig. 7 shows a bottom :plan .view of an oth'er jaw of thetool; and,

-Fig. .8 shows a fragmentary view in .ele-

vation illustrating another operating posi-v tion of the .tool.

Referring to allthe figures .ofthe draw-- ings in all of whichilike parts are designated byiike referencecharacters,at -1, I show a.

tool press frame provided'with an integral press .head portion 2, base 3, and "bench clamp 4 having a threaded aperture through an'arm 5supported bya dependingportion 6, adapted to receive-a clamping nut 9 to Secure the chai'n toolon a supporting-bench. The head frame portionand the clamp -portionof the tool aresuitably ribbed at 7 and 8, respectively, to strengthen the same and prevent distortion thereof during the operation-0f the tool.

' The head frame terminates at its upper end 7 in a pairof vertically disposed *and preferably integral fork portions 9;.and {10, L1 :is an intermediate laterally projecting-bearing portion fora plunger rod .12 adapted to be reeiprocatedon the frame'bya cam 13. The

cam 13;is journa'led on a shaft 14 supported for rotation in oppositely Mdisposed bearing openings 15 and 16 in :the upright forks-9 and 10. Saidcam-13 preferably terminates in an integral operating handle ilTadapted tobe gripped by the-hand of an operator-to effect a reciprocatory;motion to the'plunger rod when desired. A detachable :cap '18 is carried by the upper-end ofth e plunger rod and adapted to-be' engagedibythe cam when the same is rotated andtherebyeifect a communication of motionfromthe cam to the plunger to force the :plunger downwardly.

. The-upright fork portions 9-and10of the head frameeXtend forward 'to a pointslighte ly'to the rear-of the medial center ;line of the plunger rod, and are disposed parallel toeach other so-asto provide bearing-surfaces 19 for a bar20 projected transversely through the plunger rodand having projecting portions 21 and 22 adapted-to ride'upon the bearing surfaces .19 of the. upright iforks 9 wand ,10 to provide a :guide of th-eipluntger rod and thereby prevent any laterattilting of the plunger Irod durin'ga reciprocation thereof when the :camwis rotated. retractile spring 23 1's compressed between the lateral projecting portion 11 of-th'eL-headizframe and the bar 20 carried by the iplunger rodlg and is adapted to eXertan upward force upon the bar and thereby return the plunger rod to its normal elevated position.

The plunger rod terminates at its lower end in a 'die platten 24, preferably formed integral with the plunger rod and tempered to a higher degree of hardness than the remaining portion of the rod. A plurality of longitudinally forwardlyextending grooves and 26 are formed in the lower face of the 'die as best shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8. The plurality of ribs or shoulders 27 are formed onthe die by. providing the grooves 25 and 26, one of the said shoulders being disposed between the groovesand the other of said shoulders forming the outer walls of v portion of its upper surface, and forwardly of the recess edge 35. r

' The front face of the projecting por- 7 tion 29 of the anvil is provided with a vertically positioned arcuate shaped forwardly projecting lug '36, disposed substantially equi-distant from the sides of the anvil. An upstanding lug 37 is provided on an upper face of the an viland disposed with clearance space to the rear of the travel of the plunger and die, said lug being disposed on a horizontal plane and at right angles to the lug 36. By reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be seen that I have illustrated the plunger rod 12 in its uppermost position which it assumes when the tool is not in use, the handle lever 17 extending upwardly and rearwardly of the head. 1

A chain link 39 is shown in Figure l vertis cally positioned on the wedge portion of the anvil with the free end of the eye opening process which will now be described; The lug 36 retains the link 39 in proper vertical position on the anvil, the adjoining links assome a position depending from the anvil and clear of the die downward travel. The operator now swings the handle 17 which in turn rotates the cam 13 on its bearings 15 and 16, whereby the cam face 40 engages the spacercap 18 as best shown in Fig. 2 and in the position shown in this figure the die has been forced downwardly against the tension of the spring and the upper bends of the eyeof the chain link are engaged by the transverse grooves of the die and a slightly continued rotation of the cam causes the chain link to be opened by forcing the free 34, the anvil terminates in an end of the eye 'downwardly'along the upper face 41 of the wedge, the depending portion 42 of the link being retained in position about the lug 36, on the front face of the anvil during the eye opening process.

lVhen it is desired to close the eyes of the chain links the ad o1n1ng links are hooked on to the open eye of the link and the link.

is then placed in a vertical position on the anvil as best shown in .Fig. 6, with the free ends of the eye directed forwardly of the anvil. The eye of the link of the horizontal chain is placed over the lug 37 and retained in position thereby and the remaining adtool for opening the eyes the plunger and die is moved in a downward direction into contact with the eye where the die engages the eye and a continued travel in a downward direction of the die closes the eye.

The cam face 42 of the cam is so formed and the cam sojournaled in offset bearings in the head that merely a minimum of manual effort is required to eifect a sufficient force in a downward direction to open the eye of a wire chain link positioned on the anvil as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. The shoulders 26 formed in'the under face of the die prevent any lateral movement of the link being operatedon. As shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings when the-eye of the link is to be closed a light relation is had between the link and the 'die and its associate parts. l I

A spacer element of any desired thickness may be mounted upon the upper end of the plunger depending upon the force and'length of the stroke to efl'ect the opening or closing of the eye 'of the link desired.

'I have illustrated my improved tool adapted for use as a vertically reciprocating tool. However, it is to be understood that the present invention may be altered without departing from the scope of the inven tion to admit the plunger and its associated parts to be reciprocated on a horizontal plane.

The lugs 36 and 37 are so positioned upon the surface of the anvil that they will not be contacted by the die when it is.recipro-.

cated for opening or closing the eye of a link.

Having thus described my invention in a single embodiment I am aware that numer ous and extensive "departures maybe made from the embodiment herein illustrated and described without departing from the spirit of-my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a chain link tool adapted to open theeyes of er 3s chain links of a tire antiskid .chain, the combination with a frame having .an upstanding head, of a base, a

transversely recessedQanvil secured to the base, and a plunger adapted for reciprocation in a boredportion of the head towards and away from the anvil, said plunger terminating in a die at its lower end, said anvilhaving; a vwedge portion terminating in joiningthe link whose eye is'being operated upon during the eye opening or closing process, said lugs being so positioned upon the anvil that thecdie twill ,notron tact with the links which are held by the'lugs.

2. In a chain link tool adapted to open the eyes of cross chainlinks of tire anti-skid chains, the combination with a frame having an upstandinghead of a base portion and a clamp, a transverselyrecessed anvil'secured to the base, and a plungeradapted. for reciprocation in the vhead towardsand away from the anvil, said plungerterminating in a die at its lowerend, said anvil having, a wedge portion extending forwardly and upwardly from the transverse recess terminat ing in an edge and being relieved on'its for ward face below the edge. I

3, In a chain tool the combination with a frame having a bored head having a front wall guiding surface, and a base, of'a die. a cam, an anvil having a wedged portion positioned upon the base, a plunger adapted for reciprocation through the bore in the head toward and away from the base, a coil spring adapted to normally retain the plunger in its upmost position, a removable cap for the head of said plunger adapted to communicate motion to the plunger, to move it in a downward direction responsive to rotation of the cam against the tension of the coil spring, and a transverse pin projecting through the plunger adapted to bear upon the said guiding front wall surface of the head, to prevent lateral displacement of the plunger during reciprocation thereof.

4. In a chain tool adapted to open the eyes of cross chain links of tire anti-skid chains the combination with a frame having an upstanding head having a substantially vertical bore, a base, said base comprising an anvil having a transverse recess on its upper face, a plunger adapted for reciprocation in the bore of the head towards said anvil having a wedge shaped portion terminating in an edge extending upwardly from the transverse recess, said edge disposed at a point out of alignment with the axis of the plunger and adjacent the forward portion of the die.

and away: from the anvil, said plunger terminating in a die at its lower end provided with grooves,

5. In a chain link tool-adapted itouopen eyes of crosschain links of atire-anti-skid chain, the combination with a' framehaving an upstanding head, aQbase, a clamp for the base to secure it to a support, an anvil secured tothe base, a plunger adapted for reciprocation in a bore offset in the head towards and away from the anvil, saidplunger terminating in a die at its lower end and provided with a pair of transverse grooves,

said anvil having a recess on its, upper face, sa d pair of grooves and said recess being disposed at right angles to each other, said anvil having a wedge shaped portion terminating in an edge projecting upwardlyand forwardly from the transverse re and offset relative to the medial lineof the plunger. I i

6. In a chain link tool adapted to open the eye of cross-chainlinks of artirfe antiskid chain, the combination with a frame having an upstanding head, a base and a clamp therefor, an anvil secured tothe base, a plunger adapted for reciprocation towards and away from the anvil in a bore of the head, said plunger, carrying a die, said anvil comprising an upwardly extending wedge and lugs projecting from its top and side portions'ada'pted to enterthe eyesOf links adjacent the link whose eye is being operated upon, said wedge adapted to be projected within the opening of the eye to be opened upon a compressive action thereupon by said die and wedge.

7. In a chain link tool adapted to open the eyes of chain links, the combination with a frame having an upstanding head having a bore, a base portion and a clamp, of a transversely recessed anvil secured to the base, and a plunger adapted for reciprocation in the bore towards and away from the anvil, said plunger comprising a die at its lower end and a removable shim cap at its upper end, said anvil having a Wedge shaped portion terminating in anedge (2X tending upwardly from'the transverse re-i in position during the eye closing process, the other of said lugs being disposed at right angles to the first mentioned lug andbelow the wedge shaped portion terminatingin an edge of the anvil and adapted for use dur-' ing the eye closing process.

8, In a tool adapted to open and close an eye of a anti-skid chain, the combination with areciprocable plunger, an anvil comprising a link of a cross element for a tire I forward face' terminating in an upper wedge edge, said face being recessed below said edge, a forwardly projectinglug extending fromthe recessed face adapted to be projected within a link adjacent to the link operated upon, said plunger and said anvil adapted to exert expansive or compressive action upon the eye of the link, said lug positioning the chain prior to such operation upon the link eye.

9. In a chain link tool, the combination with a press frame, comprising a head and a base, said base comprising a bed portion, an anvil seated on the said bed portion, a reciprocable plunger journalcd in the head and movable towards and away from said anvil, said anvil comprising a forwardly disposed wedge horn and an anvil face portion laterally disposed from the said horn alsointhe forward portion of the anvil, said anvil face plunger having its lower face grooved, said anvil groove being disposed in vertical alignment opposite a groove of the plunger, said pair of grooves adapted to receive a chain link e e portion and adapted to compress the said link portion to close the eye when the plunger is movedtoward the anvil.

ortion being grooved, said- 10. In a tool adapted to open and close an eye of a link of a cross element for a tire anti-skid chain, the combination with a re- 7 ciprocable plunger, an anvil comprising a forward face terminating in an upper wedge edge, said face being recessed below said edge, an upstanding lug from said anvil adapted to be projected Within a link adjacent to the link operated upon, said plunger and said anvil adapted to exert expansive or conipressiveaction upon the eye of the link, said lug positioning the chain prior to such operation upon the link eye.

11. In a tool for opening and closing the eyes of a chain link, the combination of a head, an anvil, a horn portion on the anvil, a plunger journaled for reciprocation in the head towards the anvil, a spring to retract the plunger, the under face of the plunger having means thereon to engage a link, and

means for reciprocating the plunger, said link engaging'means maintaining the link in alignment with the central axis of the plunger to receive the direct thrusts of the plunger during an operation on the link.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 19th day of August, 1926. JAMES WEBB SAFFOLD. 

